CORE COMPETENCY 2 OF 12
Identity
Knowing Who You Are as God’s Beloved Child
Identity is the foundational understanding of yourself as created and defined by God. It means embracing your status as a beloved child and heir of the King, designed to reflect His image. A secure identity is the antidote to the shame and self-rejection that often fuel addiction and mental health struggles.
“See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!”
1 John 3:1
Why This Matters for Recovery
The Foundation of Transformation
You cannot become who you’re meant to be until you know who you already are.
Seeking God’s Face
Before you did anything to earn it—before your successes and failures—God called you His beloved. Your worth is not performance-based; it is gift-based.
Shame's Antidote
Shame says “I am broken.” Identity in Christ says “I am being restored.” When you know whose you are, shame loses its power to define you.
Self-Definition
Understanding your unique gifts, weaknesses, and calling allows you to move from co-dependency toward healthy differentiation and emotional stability.
Image Bearer
You were designed to reflect God’s image. Even when that image feels broken, it remains—waiting to be restored, never destroyed.
Going Deeper
Understanding Identity
The question “Who am I?” is answered only by the One who made you.
What Is Identity?
Identity is your answer to the question “Who am I?”—not who you wish you were, not who others say you are, but who you fundamentally are at your core. It’s the source code of the soul, the internal framework that shapes every thought, emotion, and choice you make.
The world offers countless answers to this question: You are your achievements. You are your failures. You are your relationships. You are your appearance. You are your diagnosis. You are your past. But Scripture offers a radically different answer: You are who God says you are.
“For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” — Ephesians 2:10
The Greek word for “handiwork” is poiema—the root of our word “poem.” You are God’s poetry, His masterpiece, His creative expression. Your identity is not something you construct; it is something you receive.
Why This Matters for Recovery
At the root of most mental health struggles and addictions lies a distorted sense of self. Depression whispers “You are worthless.” Anxiety screams “You are unsafe.” Addiction promises “You are only enough with this substance, this behavior, this escape.” These are identity lies.
Recovery requires replacing those lies with truth—not positive thinking or self-affirmation, but the truth of who God says you are. This is not about self-esteem (which can be just as fragile as self-loathing). This is about God-esteem—understanding your value as it is defined by your Creator.
The Clinical Connection
Research in psychology consistently shows that a secure sense of identity correlates with better mental health outcomes. People with a stable, positive self-concept are more resilient to stress, less prone to depression, and better able to maintain healthy relationships. But the source of that identity matters. Studies show that identity rooted in external validation (performance, appearance, approval) is fragile, while identity rooted in intrinsic worth is protective.
When you know who you are—truly know it in your bones—you stop trying to earn what’s already been given. You stop hiding what’s already been seen and loved. You stop performing for acceptance that’s already been granted. This is the freedom that fuels lasting recovery.
The Biblical Foundation
Scripture is a love letter telling you who you are. From Genesis to Revelation, God reveals your identity through names, metaphors, and declarations:
You are created in God’s image (Genesis 1:27). Even after the fall, even after your worst choices, this image remains. It may be marred, but it cannot be erased.
You are chosen (Ephesians 1:4). Before the foundation of the world, God knew you and wanted you. Your existence is not an accident; it’s an intention.
You are a child of God (John 1:12). Not a servant, not a stranger, not a disappointment—a child, with all the rights and inheritance that come with that status.
“I have called you by name; you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you.”
— Isaiah 43:1-2
Notice the order: God claims you first, then promises to be with you in the storms. Your identity is not contingent on your circumstances. It is established before them, and it remains through them.
“Beware of no man more than yourself; we carry our worst enemies within us.” — Charles Spurgeon
Wisdom from Those Who Walked Before
The saints who have gone before us fought the same battle for identity. Their words can guide us:
“You have made us for yourself, O Lord, and our hearts are restless until they rest in you.” — St. Augustine
“To be loved but not known is comforting but superficial. To be known and not loved is our greatest fear. But to be fully known and truly loved is, well, a lot like being loved by God.” — Timothy Keller
“The world offers you comfort. But you were not made for comfort. You were made for greatness.” — Pope Benedict XVI
These voices remind us that identity is not found in comfort, performance, or the approval of others. It is found in the One who made us, knows us completely, and loves us still.
A Prayer for Identity
If you’ve forgotten who you are—or if you’ve never really known—this prayer is for you. Pray it slowly. Let it sink in. And trust that the God who named you is faithful to remind you.
“Father, I have believed so many lies about who I am. I have let my failures define me. I have let others’ opinions shape me. I have forgotten that I am Yours. Remind me today of my true name—the name You gave me before I was born. Help me to see myself the way You see me: beloved, chosen, forgiven, free. When shame whispers, let Your truth be louder. I receive my identity as Your child—not because I’ve earned it, but because You have given it. In Jesus’ name, Amen.” — A Prayer for Remembering Who You Are
Remember Who You Are
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Companion Reading
Go Deeper with the Saints
These classic devotionals pair beautifully with your recovery journey.
ABOUT THE AUTHORS
Where This Devotional Was Born
Sanctuary Clinics is a Christ-centered residential mental health treatment center in Florida. We exist for those who have tried everything else—where clinical excellence meets authentic Christian community for complete healing of spirit, mind, and body.
- Christ-Centered Care – Faith isn’t an add-on; it’s the foundation of everything we do
- Clinical Excellence – Evidence-based psychiatric care from experts who are also believers
- Healing Community – Not a hospital with a chaplain, but an Acts 2 community living together
- Affordable & Accessible – Quality care that doesn’t require choosing between healing and financial ruin
